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The last few months has seen a flurry of activity with regard to congressional support for modifications to the laws governing medical marijuana in the United States of America. So much so that that a bipartisan US Congressional Delegation is heading to Europe next week to study the various drug policies and regulatory systems that are currently in place in several countries in Europe today. The trip caps off in Berlin at the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC).

Germany has recently legalized medical marijuana and is expected to have an industry bigger than Canada’s within just a few years. As Germany’s Cannabis Agency is being established, and other kinks in the new cannabis laws get ironed out, the visit from the representatives comes at an auspicious time. “We are more than excited to have the bipartisan delegation at our event,” says Alex Rogers, founder and producer of the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC). “Our goal is to connect and educate people in the industry, as well as help move cannabis policy forward in all of the places around the world we do our events”.

As part of a multi-country tour, Congressman Brian Higgins from New York and California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher will stop by the ICBC to answer questions regarding cannabis laws and the new Trump administration, and discuss national and international drug policy. Congressman Rohrabacher, a former speechwriter to Ronald Reagan, will keynote the April 12 session. Representative Rohrabacher commented on the progress of marijuana law reform, “This is an exciting time for drug policy reform. I haven’t witnessed this scale of reform in the world since I worked with Ronald Reagan in 1987, when he uttered those famous words: ‘Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.’ Now, almost 30 years later, the Berlin Wall of medical marijuana prohibition is crumbling.”

Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign.
As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state.
Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients.
He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm.
His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.